Reward in 9-year-old’s crossfire shooting death is now up to $10,000

A reward for information leading to an arrest in the Jan. 20 shooting death of 9-year-old Dominic Young Jr. has increased to $10,000.

Dominic died from an apparent stray bullet in Kansas City as his father drove him and his younger brother to their home in Grandview, according to relatives.

The car Dominic’s father was driving was besieged by gunfire from two other vehicles that were engaged in a gunfight near Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and Bruce R. Watkins Drive, the father of five later told police.

The boy’s death enraged law enforcement and community leaders. Dominic’s parents and relatives have frequently pleaded for anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators.

Recently, several elected officials and community leaders including former Kansas City Councilman John Sharp; Missouri state representatives Richard Brown and DaRon McGee; Kansas City Councilman Scott Taylor, and the Rev. Ronald Lindsay, pastor of Concord Fortress of Hope Church, contributed additional money to the previous $5,000 reward.

The student at Ingels Elementary School in the Hickman Mills School District had spent Jan. 20 roller skating, bowling and playing video games with his dad and his extended family.

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While they drove home south on Bruce R. Watkins Drive to Grandview, the car driven by the father came under gunfire.

The father initially thought he was the target, but was confused because he had no enemies. He later thought the shooting was between two other vehicles, according to relatives.

As the father drove onto the highway headed south, it seemed to him that Dominic and his younger brother were both still alive and talking, according to police and relative accounts. But when the father arrived home in Grandview and lifted Dominic out of the car, the boy’s body was limp.

Dominic, the second-oldest of the five children, later died at a hospital.